Everything I researched before I recieved my hatchling and since then has indicated that they (easterns) are a docile species. And I have read a LOT of archived posts and caresheets and the only bites from an eastern I've read about had to do with feeding responses and I recall another one where someone was giving their indigo an injection of medicine.
From what I've seen in my brief time with my little girl strengthens those conclusions. A couple feedings ago, she started not only taking on the Indigo aptitie but the feeding reaction and that turns her into a totally different snake. Otherwise, bitting doesn't seem to be in her defensive vocabulary (and she is still small enough and still think I want to eat her, so she has shown plenty of defensive behavior).
Even reading the earliest published description of the Indigo, from 1842, (you can read it at http://indigosnakes.com/Holbrook Indigo Article.htm) says, "Although a harmless snake, it is a bold one, and when provoked, it faces its enemy with courage, vibrating its tail rapidly. It is, however, so mild in character that it may be domesticated; and an instance is mentioned of the negro children of a neighbouring plantation being in the habit of holding on to the tail of one whilst it wandered about the yard."
And finally, there are a lot of folk that use Indigos as their show stopping serpents for educational programs, programs where these snakes come into contact with poking and prodding children. It's a lawsuit happy time we live in and it's very easy for snakes to get bad press. I think the fact that a lot of these keepers trusts a six, seven, eaight foot serptent (with one of the, pound for pound, more powerful bites of the snake world) with strange children says soemthing about their nature.
-Josh
PS - I couldn't say as much for the other sub species (but I'm sure there's plenty of people here who can). From the little i know about Texas Indigos, they not only share a similar appearance to the easterns, but a similar disposition as well.
